Beholding His Glory ~ Pastor Bill Slabaugh

When Jesus was walking on this earth, all the power of Hell was launched against Him. There was no other time in human history when the demonic activity was more actively at work and furiously engaged against the Kingdom of God. (Incidentally, the world will experience a similar unleashing of the powers of Hell during the Tribulation Period described in the Book of Revelation).

But nevertheless, whether we realize it or not, as believers in Jesus Christ we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare as well.  How are we to fight these spiritual battles today and what does it all have to do with the physical battles we wage?

John Wesley, the leader of the Methodist Revival in 18th Century England was once asked how he knew if his preaching was successful.  He responded, “I know my preaching is successful if some are angered and some are saved.” Wesley’s ministry revealed something of the same kind of rejection, anger, and denunciation that descended upon our Lord when He first brought God’s message to His people. Their response? They tried to throw Him off a cliff.

In the account of when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness we discover the essence of every temptation we experience as well. In every temptation we face, whenever we have a crises or need, or whatever trial we go through, the question we face is: “Am I going to trust God and obey Him or am I going to do something else?”  The temptation is always to get our needs and desires met outside of God and His will. We want our needs met our own way, with our own resources, and to accomplish what we want apart from the will of God. The Lord Jesus Christ shows us how to stand fast and resist temptation.

Since Alex Haley's best-seller— “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” – and blockbuster television miniseries aired in 1977, a new genealogy craze has swept the nation. Genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the U.S. after gardening.  It's a billion dollar industry that has spawned television shows, scores of books, and a cottage industry in DNA ancestry testing.

But the most important genealogy, as well as the most exciting, is the genealogy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

In Luke chapter 3:21-22, the Gospel writer gives us a sketchy description of the baptism of Jesus. And it raises the question, “Why would Jesus be baptized by John the Baptist?” John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was sinless and did not need to repent. So why did he come to be baptized by John?

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11)!” From this great man, there is much we can learn about preaching the gospel in such a way that people repent and are forgiven of their sins.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, . . . and we were all made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12).” Paul uses a great word picture here. He says that when we are baptized in the Spirit, when we are immersed in Him, we were made to drink of the one Spirit. The Spirit of God permeates every aspect of our being. It’s like  a man drowning in water. At some point the person under water gasps for air. At that moment, water and not air, fills his lungs and he is made to drink. At the moment you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you were made to drink of the Holy Spirit.

Preparing the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3). John makes it very clear that repentance is necessary to be forgiven and to be saved. But how can we know that we have truly repented of our sins and how do we do that? How can we tell the real thing from that which is shallow and therefore false? One’s eternal destiny depends on the answer to these kinds of questions.

It was against the backdrop of political and religious darkness that “the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2b). John the Baptist came on the scene preparing the way of the Lord when politically there was wickedness, intrigue, and conspiracies. And religiously there was a degenerate priesthood that had aligned itself with Rome for its own power and wealth. But there was Good News in the bad times and it is the same Good News in the bad times we are going through today.

YouTube and social media is filled with the performances and the amazing accomplishments of child prodigies. We are amazed at a six year old who plays the piano at Carnegie Hall or a seven year old who performs surgery in India. Then there is the two year old toddler who is a pool wizard and is already a member of the American Pool Association. But what are we to make of the child named Jesus?

In Luke chapter 2, verses 39-52, we have the only recorded incident and description of Jesus’ life from the time He was born and presented at the Temple as an infant until He began His ministry at about the age of thirty. Luke’s description of Jesus going to the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of twelve is wonderful and insightful glimpse into the Man who is God.